Terrorist fears shadow Indian parade

Sharpshooters, bomb disposal squads, air defences and 65,000 police will protect India’s capital today, as fears of terrorist attacks shadow the annual Republic Day parade.

There will be fewer soldiers on display in New Delhi tomorrow than in previous years - most troops are still deployed along the border with Pakistan.

Both nuclear armed rivals rushed men to their frontier, backed by missiles, fighter jets and tanks, in a military standoff that has brought the hostile neighbours to the verge of war.

Six weeks after a suicide attack on India’s Parliament - and three days after a shooting attack outside a US cultural centre in Calcutta - security forces have deployed the tightest security ever for the celebration of India’s constitution.

Police throughout the country always increase security on Republic Day, but said there was an ‘‘unprecedented threat’’ this year.

Air force fighter jets will provide air cover for the parade, minesweepers and sniffer dogs will scour the streets for explosives. Anti-aircraft guns will aim at the sky for aerial attacks. Commandos will guard strategic points along the route.

Hundreds of people have been incarcerated under laws that allow police to conduct preventive detentions to avoid trouble.

Hundreds of ‘‘spotters’’ - intelligence operatives who keep track of suspects and convicts in their area - were deployed at railway stations, bus stations and airports.

‘‘Our security this time is the toughest ever, the tightest ever,’’ said Suresh Roy, joint secretary of the New Delhi Police.